A second sex shop licence has been granted for a city.

After a five-hour hearing, councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council's licens-

ing committee agreed to the licence for a shop in St James's Street.

Until now, the only sex shop has been The Private Shop in Surrey Street, near Brighton station.

Applicants Clone Zone made the bid for an existing shop which has been open for more than two years.

The shop wants to sell explicit R18 videos and DVDs featuring gay pornography.

Objectors claimed the shop was not suitable for an area undergoing regeneration and that it would be seen by many children in the area.

But a petition was submitted by 500 people in favour of the shop.

Councillor Jeane Lepper, who chaired the committee, said the application had been considered thoroughly.

She said: "It was very difficult to argue that it would bring the area into disrepute."

Clone Zone manager Tony Sinclair said: "It has been hard work but have got it and we are ecstatic. It was a good result for us."